Mason{40 s guide for aligning building blocks

ABSTRACT

A Mason&#39;&#39;s Guide for Aligning Building Blocks consisting of (1) a clamp element having an aperture, (2) a pair of screws extending through the aperture, and (3) having at one end a pair of washers, one of which is a flat washer and the other of which is a dished washer, (4) nuts on one end of each screw and securing the washers against the clamped element, and (5) a cord secured to the clamp by being interposed between the two washers. The aperture is elongated and the clamp element has a channel parallel with and registering with the aperture on one side thereof. The screws extend through the aperture and are slidable along the length thereof. A nut is threaded on each screw at one end thereof and is positioned in the channel. A wing nut is threaded onto the opposite end of each screw for co-operating with the first named nut which is positioned in the channel for clamping the clamp element between said nuts. The cord is secured at the opposite end thereof to a fixed point and at its nearest end to the clamp by it being wound around the screw between the two washers.

MASON'S GUIDE FOR ALIGNING BUILDING BLOCKS [72] Inventor: Charles W.Huston, 6931 Waterloo Road N.W., Canal Winchester, Ohio 431 10 [22]Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 112,344 a [52] US. Cl ..33/86 [51]Int. Cl. ..B44d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..33/85, 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,539 2/1936 Riley..33/86 2,585,160 2/1952 Munn ..33/85 3,436,832 4/1969 Juberigan ..33/862,261,503 11/1941 Morris ..33/86 3,093,907 6/1963 Searles ..33/85Primary Examiner- Leonard Forman Assistant ExaminerCharles E. PhillipsAttorney-Jerome R. Cox

[4 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT A Mason's Guide for Aligning BuildingBlocks consisting of (1) a clamp element having an aperture, (2) a pairof screws extending through the aperture, and (3) having at one end apair of washers, one of which is a flat washer and the other of which isa dished washer, (4) nuts on one end of each screw and securing thewashers against the clamped element, and (5) a cord secured to the clampby being interposed between the two washers. The aperture is elongatedand the clamp element has a channel parallel with and registering withthe aperture on one side thereof. The screws extend through the apertureand are slidable along the length thereof. A nut is threaded on eachscrew at one end thereof and is positioned in the channel. A wing nut isthreaded onto the opposite end of each screw for co-operating with thefirst named nut which is positioned in the channel for clamping theclamp element between said nuts. The cord is secured at the opposite endthereof to a fixed point and at its nearest end to the clamp by it beingwound around the screw between the two washers.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PNENTEUBBI 17 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 13 .Y (I IINVENTOR. (IMP/es MA 6 05/21? MASON'S GUIDE FOR ALIGNING BUILDING BLOCKSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a Masons Guide whichis utilized to provide means whereby building blocks such as bricks,cement blocks, etc. may be correctly aligned when they are being laid bythe mason. Such guides have heretofore been provided and my inventionrelates to an improvement onsuch guides, especially in that the guideand the clamp thereof may be adjusted to arrange it so that it can besecured either to a brick having holes therein, a conventional concretebuilding block, or a brick which is solid without holes. One example ofthe prior art devices is shown in the Munn US. Pat. No. 2,585,160.

One disadvantage present in previously known bricklayers guides is thatthe guide cannot be adjusted in order to be efficiently used withdifferent size bricks, different size cement blocks and different kindsof bricks.

In none of the structures of the prior art of which we have knowledge isthe clamping device readily attached to a building block regardless ofthe size or arrangement of the block or easily disconnected and attachedto another building block of different size and con struction.

A further more important defect in the prior art devices is the dangerinherent in the usual arrangement. For example, an alignment line may besecured to nails driven in masonry at points at opposite ends of theline. In order that the line may not sag appreciably, it is usuallytightened to a pull of about 100 pounds. Under this force, the nailsoften pull out. When they do, the nail pulling out shoots like an arrowfrom a bow at terrific speed and force. The masons are of necessity nearthe line because the bricks or other masonry blocks are being laid tothe line. The applicant has seen a masons finger broken by the force ofa nail flying down the line after the nail had pulled from the masonry.He has not seen a nail strike the head or eye of a mason but believes itcould happen. Thusthe invention is a safety device;

OBJECTS It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a deviceto be used as a masons guide which is simple in construction,inexpensive to manufacture, and yet effective and efficient in use.

A further most important object is to provide a device which is safe touse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a masons guide whichwill eliminate the necessity of inserting screws or nails into thebuilding blocks being laid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a masons guide to whichan aligning cord may be at tached very quickly and efficiently.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from areading of the following specification and claims when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention.

SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION We have found that the foregoing and otherobjects may be attained by anapparatus wherein there is provided a clampelement having an elongated aperture and having one or more screwsextending through the aperture and having an abutting element on one endof each screw abutting against one side of the clamp element, and havingthe opposite end of the screw extending out of the clamp element on theopposite side of the clamp element. Preferably, there are a pair ofwashers on the outwardly extending end of the screw and a nut isprovided secured to the outer end of the outwardly extending end of thescrew and securing the washers against the clamping elements.Preferably, the two washers consist of a flat washer and a dished washercontacting therewith. Nuts are secured on the opposite ends of thescrews and secure the screws to the clamp element. A building block iscontacted by the screws and thus the clamp element is secured to thebuilding block. A cord is secured to the clamp by being interposedbetween the two washers. The screws are slidable in the elongated slotso that they may be spaced at any desired spacing and may thus clamp thebuilding block. It is obvious that, if desired, a pair of apertures maybe provided with one of the screws located in each of the apertures, andalso, if desired, one or both of the apertures may be elongated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in top plan showing apair of clamp elements each clamped to a brick and having an aligningcord secured to'each clamp adjacent its ends so that the cord providesmeans for aligning intermediate bricksbetween the bricks shown in. FIG.1;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing a clamp element on an enlargedscale secured to a brick and having the aligning cord extendingoutwardly along one edge of the brick;

FIG. 3 shows my clamp element attached to a cement block and having thealigning cord extending out wardly along one edge of the cement block;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation ofa clamp constructed according to myinvention having a hidden channel and some hidden parts shown inphantom;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the clamp as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section of the clamp shown in FIG. 4, takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of one of the clampelements on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a view in section of the clamp of FIG. 7 taken along the line8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of an alternative form of a screw assembly,being shown with some of the portions thereof separated.

In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake ofclarity. However, it is not intended to be limited to the specific termsso selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includesall technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings,it may be seen that I have shown a pair of bricks 11 and 12 to whichthere are clamped clamp elements 13 and 14 respectively. The clampelement 13 is secured to the brick 11 by means of two screws 15 and 16,and it will be noted that while the screw 15 is positioned to contactthe upper side of the brick 11, the screw 16 extends through a hole inthe brick. On the other hand, the element 14 is secured to the brick 12by a screw 17 which bears on the upper side of the brick 12 and by ascrew 18 which bears on the lower side of the brick 12. It can also beseen that the screw 18 has been moved in the elongated aperture 19 ofclamp element 14 attached to brick 12 from a position adjacent to screw17 to a position removed therefrom. This illustrates the adjustabilityof the clamp element whereby it may be operated with bricks of varioussizes and various configurations.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the brick 1 1 is thereshown on an enlarged scale and that the element 13 as well as brick 11is seen from the opposite side. The screw 15, as may be seen, bears onthe upper face of brick 11 and thereby the clamp 13 is positioned.Aligning cord 21 is secured to the device by being interposed andcinched between washers, as will be more fully described hereinafter,and then passing through a slot 23 formed in the end of the clamp 13,then along a channel 24 to the screw 15, around the screw 15, and alongthe edge of the brick 11. The screw 16, not shown in FIG. 2, extendsinto a hole in the brick 11, such as, for example, into the hole 25.

In FIG. 3, a cement block 37 has secured thereto a clamp element 32which has associated therewith a screw 33 bearing on the top of thecement block 37 and a screw 34 extending through an opening 35 in thecement block and bearing on an upper surface of the opening 35, thusclamping the clamp element to the cement block in a manner similar tothat which the clamp 13 is clamped to the brick 1 1.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a view in side elevation of the clamp 13; inFIG. a view in plan; and in FIG. 6 a view in section of said clamp 13wherein it may be seen that the screws and 16 extend through theelongated aperture 20 (shown in FIG. 5) of the clamp 13. The

screws, as for example 15, are each provided with a head 41, a squareupper nut 42, a flat washer 43, a dished washer 44 and a winged nut 45.(See also FIG. 6). Similarly, the screw 16 is provided with a head 41a,a nut similar to nut 42, a flat washer 430, a dished washer 44a and awinged nut 45a. The nut 42 and the corresponding nut on screw 16 aresquare and fit snugly in the elongated aperture 20, thus being securedagainst being loosened, and contacting with the clamp 13 andconstituting an abutting element.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, it is shown that the clamp 13 is provided not onlywith the elongated aperture 20, but also with the slot 23 and thechannel 24.

In FIG. 9, a screw assembly is shown on an enlarged scale with the wingnut 45 separated from the rest of the assembly. This shows a slightmodification of the devices shown in FIGS. l-6 inclusive, in that thenut 42a does not contact the clamp element directly but is nested in asquare washer 47a which itself tits in the channel 24 and contacts theclamp elementdirectly and constituting an abutting element.

It is to be understood that the cord 21 which is used for aligningbricks intermediate the ends of the cord and as suggested in FIG. 1,between bricks 11 and 12, is secured at one end of the cord to the clamp13 by being cinched around the screw 15, between the dished washer 44and the flat washer 43. It then passes over the end of the clamp elementin the slot 23 and then through the channel 24 (shown in FIG. 2) andthence around the screw 15 and along the upper edge of the brick 11. Itthen extends towards the clamp 14 where it similarly extends along theupper edge of the brick 12, then around the screw 17 and over the clampto be secured between the washers 44a and a flat washer similar towasher 43 and then the loose end which is on the spool 47 is left woundaround the spool 47. The clamps may be quickly and efficiently securedto a brick or cement block or other form of masonry or building blocksand the aligning cord may be quickly and efficiently secured to one ortwo or more clamp elements. By the use of such device the aligning cordmay be quickly secured in exactly the proper position and much time willbe saved in the construction of buildings.

It is to be understood that while the detailed drawings given describepreferred embodiments of my invention, they are for the purpose ofillustration only and various changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention which is defined by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a masons guide for aligning building blocks and for clamping analigning cord to said guide and for clamping the guide and the cord toone of said blocks;

a clamp element having an elongated aperture and having a channelparallel with and registering with said aperture;

a pair of screws each having a head and each extending slidably throughthe aperture, having the end with the head extending outwardly asubstantial distance from the aperture so that both heads bear on thebuilding block to which the guide is clamped, and having the endopposite to the head extending out of the clamp element on the oppositeside of said clamp element;

an abutting element threaded on each screw and abutting against one sideof the clamp element; said abutting element being of such as size so asto fit non-rotatably in said channel and being too large to slip throughsaid aperture, and being slidable longitudinally of said channel; meanscomprising a pair of washers on the end of one of said screws on theopposite side of the clamp element from said channel for clamping saidcord to said clamp element;

at least one washer on the end of the other screw on the opposite sideof the abutting element from the channel;

a nut secured to said end of each screw on the opposite side of theabutting element from said channel and securing the washers against theclamp element; and

a cord interposed between the washers and secured by the washers to theclamp.

2. The schedule of claim 1, in which one of the washers is a dishedwasher and the cord is secured between the two washers.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which there is one flat washer and onedished washer and the cord is secured between the flat washer and thedished washer.

4. In a masons guide for aligning building blocks and for clamping andaligning cord to said guide and for clamping the guide and the cord toone of said blocks;

a clamp element having an elongated aperture and having a channelparallel with and registering with said aperture;

a pair of screws each extending through said aperture and slidable alongthe length thereof, and each having an end with a head extendingoutwardly a substantial distance from the aperture so that the headbears on one face of the building block to which the guide is clamped;

a nut threaded on each screw at one end thereof, both nuts positioned insaid channel and both bearing against said clamp element, said nutsbeing of such a size so as to fit non-r'otatably in said channel, andbeing too large to slip through said aperture, and being slidablelongitudinally of said channel;

a cord;

a wing nut on the opposite end of each screw abutting the side of theclamp opposite from the first named nut, for clamping the clamp elementbetween said nuts; means comprising a pair of washers interposed betweenthe clamp element and the wing nut;

on each of said screws, for clamping said cord, the cord being securedat one end to a fixed point and at its other end to said clamp by beingwound around said screw between said pair of washers.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said pair of washers is aflat washer and one of said pair of washers is a dished washer and thecord is-secured between said flat washer and said dished washer.

1. In a mason''s guide for aligning building blocks and for clamping analigning cord to said guide and for clamping the guide and the cord toone of said blocks; a clamp element having an elongated aperture andhaving a channel parallel with and registering with said aperture; apair of screws each having a head and each extending slidably throughthe aperture, having the end with the head extending outwardly asubstantial distance from the aperture so that both heads bear on thebuilding block to which the guide is clamped, and having the endopposite to the head extending out of the clamp element on the oppositeside of said clamp element; an abutting element threaded on each screwand abutting against one side of the clamp element; said abuttingelement being of such as size so as to fit non-rotatably in said channeland being too large to slip through said aperture, and being slidablelongitudinally of said channel; means comprising a pair of washers onthe end of one of said screws on the opposite side of the clamp elementfrom said channel for clamping said cord to said clamp element; at leastone washer on the end of the other screw on the opposite side of theabutting element from the channel; a nut secured to said end of eachscrew on the opposite side of the abutting element from said channel andsecuring the washers against the clamp element; and a cord interposedbetween the washers and secured by the washers to the clamp.
 2. Theschedule of claim 1, in which one of the washers is a dished washer andthe cord is secured between the two washers.
 3. The structure of claim 1in which there is one flat washer and one dished washer and the cord issecured between the flat washer and the dished washer.
 4. In a mason''sguide for aligning building blocks and for clamping and aligning cord tosaid guide and for clamping the guide and the cord to one of saidblocks; a clamp element having an elongated aperture and having achannel parallel with and registering with said aperture; a pair ofscrews each extending through said aperture and slidable along thelength thereof, and each having an end with a head extending outwardly asubstantial distance from the aperture so that the head bears on oneface of the building block to which the guide is clamped; a nut threadedon each screw at one end thereof, both nuts positioned in said channeland both bearing against said clamp element, said nuts being of such asize so as to fit non-rotatably in said channel, and being too large toslip through said aperture, and being slidable longitudinally of saidchannel; a cord; a wing nut on the opposite end of each screw abuttingthe side of the clamp opposite from the first named nut, for clampingthe clamp element between said nuts; means comprising a pair of washersinterposed between the clamp element and the wing nut; on each of saidscrews, for clamping said cord, the cord being secured at one end to afixed point and at its other end to said clamp by being wound aroundsaid screw between said pair of washers.
 5. The structure of claim 4wherein one of said pair of washers is a flat washer and one of saidpair of washers is a dished washer and the cord is secured between saidflat washer and said dished washer.